Birmingham city councilor asks state for money for Collegeville cleanup

Maxine Parker, shown in a 2009 file photo, says details on partnerships to 'clean up' Collegeville will be released soon.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- A Birmingham City Council member is asking state leaders to allocate $1.5 million to continue environmental cleanup in former industrial areas of Collegeville and northern Birmingham.

"We're trying to get funding not only to clean up but also to enhance the quality of life for our citizens," said Councilwoman Maxine Parker.

In addition to her request to the Legislature, Parker said her team is meeting with representatives from the city's medical community about establishing a health clinic to treat residents with pollution-related illnesses.

Parker's district, which includes northern Birmingham and Collegeville, has a long history of industry, some of which has left hazardous residue that must be cleaned up, she said.

Parker declined to give specifics Friday but said more details on partnerships will be released soon.

"We need to provide testing for our citizens in that area, especially the children who have respiratory problems," she said. "We don't have a facility in the North Birmingham community to address those issues. We want to see if we can get those type of resources provided to the community."

Parker's requests represent a portion of a larger package of improvements she wants for her district. In October she announced a plan to seek $10 million in new projects, ranging from streetscapes and brownfield cleanup to sidewalks and interstate lighting. The capital projects to-do list would be financed through a mix of public and private money, she said.

State Rep. John Rogers, D-Birmingham, said he will sponsor the cleanup funding proposal when the Legislature convenes in February. He predicted both Democrats and Republicans will support it.

"It's almost a necessity," Rogers said. "It would go toward environmental monitoring and cleanup, getting the EPA involved and making sure it's safe for those folks."

In August, the City Council agreed to retain the White, Arnold & Dowd law firm to advise it on issues related to pollution in northern Birmingham neighborhoods. The firm manages a new website, nbcaction.org, which tracks environmental cleanup and planned projects in northern Birmingham.